Improved step-ladder



PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CURTIS, OF NEW HUDSON, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVED STEP-LADDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,565., dated May 3, 1864.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs CURTIS, ofNew Hudson, county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Step- Ladder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of its construction and manner of operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings or photographic representation, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in so constructing a step-ladder that when folded or closed together it shall bemore than usually compact, but when expanded the feet or supports shall be spread out in the shape of a tripod, thus giving an enlarged base or support, and consequently making the ladder more steady and secure.

The drawing or photograph represents the step-ladder expanded and shows the great breadth of base obtained.

A A represent the sides of the ladder and the supports of the steps F F.

B B represent the standards or movable legs, which support the ladder in an upright position, and which fold or close against the back of the ladder when not in use. These standards are attached to and supported from a roller, E, which is inserted between the upper ends of the sides A A and just below the top step, and such standards are so fastened to such roller by means of a screwor headed pin, G, or its equivalent, that they can have motion on such fastening as a fulcrum toward and away from each other.

C is a straight wooden brace, tenoned into or fastened to the roller E, and into the lower ends of which is lixed one end of an iron brace, D, which is hinged to another brace,

and these standards are supported from such roller by a screw or pivot, Gr, so as to allow them to move sidewise on such pivot, so that the bottoms or lower ends of such standards will spread apart when the ladder is set up ready for use, but can come near together when .folded against the ladder. The roller referred to also allows these standards to stand out from the bottom of the ladder when it is set up and to lie against the back of the ladder when folded up. When the ladder is folded up, the standards B B lie close against the back side of the ladder and their lower ends are near together; but when it is set up for use, these standards not only stand out away from the bottom of the ladder, but also away from each other, so that a broad base or sup port is secured, thereby rendering the ladder more steady and safe.

This movement of the standards B B in respect to each other and to the ladder is obtained and regulated through the roller E and by means of the braces D Dl lD and the pendent brace C. This brace C is about half the length of the standards B B, and is connected at or near its lower end with the ladder by means of the two braces D and D, the former of which is connected at one end to the upright piece C, and the latter of which is fastened to the piece H, extending between two steps of the ladder, and the other ends of which braces D D connect with and move upon each other. The length of these two braces regulate the distance the standards B B spread backward from the ladder. To the brace D, about two inches from the -pendent piece C, is attached by means of a knucklejoint two iron braces, Dll D, and. the other ends ot' such braces are attached by a screw or pin to the standards B B.

When the operator desires to set up the ladder for use, he moves the pendent piece (l out from the ladder to the limits permitted bythe connecting-braces D D", and at the same time the braces D D carry the standards B B away from the ladder and away from each other, so as to make a broad and firm support for the ladder. On the other hand, the movement'of the piece (l toward the ladder brings such standards B B both toward each other and toward the ladder, and they are all folded in a compact form upon the back of the ladder.

' What I claim as my invention, and desire to ried backward from the ladder they will also at secure by Letters Patent in the construction of the same time, by the action of the braces step-ladders, is- D" D" be expanded at their lower ends, sub- The combination of the standards B B, stantially as and for the purposes set forth. Y

pendent brace G, roller E, or its equivalent, THOMAS CURTIS.

and folding braces D D D D, arranged, Witnesses: connecting, and operating substantially as de- S. D. LAW, scribed, sothat as the standards B B are car- E. N. TAFT. 

